It's okay not to wave

[RVFRick]

Returning from Alice's and coming down Page Mill late afternoon today.

My own near incident was when an MBZ decided to pass me on the left over a double yellow as I was signaling left to turn onto Page Mill Road from Skyline. I guess 60 in a 50 is too slow for some peeps. :thumb down

Anyways, I happened to witness a collision at the bottom of PMR at the 4-way stop intersection at cross street Arastradero. I was approaching the intersection after another rider, Rider1, had already stopped and continued through. A pickup truck coming off 280 southbound exit beat me to the intersection, stopped, saw all clear and entered the intersection. Meanwhile, in the opposite direction from me Rider2 was approaching. I saw the riders exchange waves. Rider2 must have been distracted because he failed to slow for his stop sign. Closing at 50mph I heard a horn beep and skidding tires (ABS?) but it was too late.

Rider2 struck the tail end of the truck. Rider was shaken but uninjured. :thumb We agreed he was lucky to have not gone down. I believe he got distracted by waving at Rider1 and failed to see the stop sign and truck until it was too late.

The helmet cam was useful in reconstructing what happened.

My take-aways: wave only when it's safe, don't get distracted by passing riders, ATGATT and get a helmet cam. Oh, and I suck at video editing :teeth

 

[Aware]

A nod is safer.

 

[budman]

Dude was lucky he did not totally broadside the truck.

Nice little vid.

 

[Biga]

Very lucky rider... kept the bike up on 2 wheels :wow

 

[RVFRick]

Very lucky rider... kept the bike up on 2 wheels :wow

Very lucky.

Big dude looked strong.

Does the skid sound like a bike with ABS? He stopped hella quick.

 

[Enchanter]

Does the skid sound like a bike with ABS? He stopped hella quick.

I’ve never heard a bike (or car) make that sound when the ABS was engaged. I’ve had quite a few students ride ABS bikes in class and never hear tires squeal like that in maximum braking exercises. I’m betting it was a locked rear wheel.

 

[NB0tt]

Dude needs to practice his MSF brake and swerve exercises.

 

[Sean D]

That's a bad intersection -- the stop sort of comes up on you unexpectedly from both directions and I've seen at least a couple of cars skidding to a stop when not noticing the stop in time.

Great video. Looked like it was going to be worse there as he started his braking.

(Skyline --> Page Mill is also a bad intersection, it's such a sharp angle and it also sneaks up on you... glad you kept the rubber down when that tool passed you on the left)

 

[thedub]

live by the wave, die by the wave.

 

[Mechanikrazy]

I mean.... how else are you going to show your advanced riding skills to motivate new riders if you aren't throwing the wave at inopportune times, like before stop signs or while knee down mid-corner? :laughing

 

[RVFRick]

Photos of the aftermath and the approach to the intersection

 

[Busy Little Shop]

Mercy!!! a wave is a gift and in the spirit of giving don't expect one in return... stay alert...

 

[rootkit]

wow, 5 different signs and that guy was still sailing.

 

[jrlofitness]

i sometimes wave with my leg so can keep both hands on the controls to do what i gotta do, i.e. stop.

 

[taoster]

is it just me or was the rider staring at the truck as if it was his fault? anyways.. glad he was able to walk away.

 

[musiclucho]

wow, 5 different signs and that guy was still sailing.

I did not pay attention to the number of signs. What really got my attention was the yellow alpinestar 4 season armored sweater?

 

[Teroh]

I've definitely made this mistake and had to learn to supress the desire to wave in any kind of dangerous circumstance. Sucks to make that kind of a mistake and pay for it, but hopefully he can brush it off and take it as a lesson learned.

 

[RVFRick]

is it just me or was the rider staring at the truck as if it was his fault? anyways.. glad he was able to walk away.

In fact the truck driver's insurance agent called me a week later to ask for my version of the incident. Apparently the rider was denying fault. :nchantr I told him to watch the video.

 

[cellige]

Least he had a full face on on a cruiser, I don't see enough of that out there